Orange Ginger Mint Soda

Ingredients and Instructions:

• 2 oranges
• 1 ¹/₂ cups demara [raw] sugar
• 1 ¹/₂ cups water
• 8 1-inch pieces ginger
• 1 bunch fresh mint
• 1 liter club soda
• crushed ice

1. Use a vegetable peeler to peel rind from oranges in thin pieces, taking care not to get white pith on rind. Cut oranges in half and squeeze juice into a 3-quart saucepan.
2. Add sugar and water to saucepan and place over medium high heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium. Add orange rind, ginger, and mint; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain syrup, discarding solids. Store in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up 1 week.
3. To make sodas, fill a tall glass halfway with crushed ice. Add 1/4 cup of orange-ginger-mint syrup to glass and top off with club soda. If desired, add a splash of orange-flavored vodka or spiced rum to glass before topping with club soda. Garnish with thin slice of orange and a couple of mint leaves.

recipe and photo credit: https://food52.com/recipes/12209-orange-ginger-mint-sodas